Page 8 of Paws and Claws (Saltwater Grove Romances #4)

8

TABITHA

T he summer sun beat down on the intersection where three cars had collided a week ago. Tabitha leaned against her motorcycle and checked her phone. 7:58 AM. For once in her life, she'd arrived early to meet someone - and that someone was Sheriff No-Fun himself.

Right on cue, Dominic's squad car pulled up. He stepped out and his dark hair caught the morning light. His presence filled the space, commanding and intense like always.

"You're early," he said, surprise coloring his voice.

"Don't sound so shocked. I can be responsible when I want to be." Tabitha pushed off her bike. "Though I have to say, being up this early is criminal."

"Speaking of criminal..." He gestured to the intersection. "Walk me through why this couldn't be you."

Tabitha crossed her arms. "First off, I can't mess with minds. My magic is wild, yeah, but it doesn't work that way. I can make things move, create light shows, maybe blow up a painting or two when I'm really frustrated - but mind control?" She shook her head. "Not my thing."

She took a step closer, her voice dropping. "And more importantly? I would never hurt anyone. Create a little chaos? Sure. But actually harm people?" Her blue eyes met his green ones. "That's not who I am."

Dominic studied her face, and Tabitha suddenly realized how close they were standing. His presence was overwhelming - all authority and barely contained power. The lion shifter in him was apparent in the way he held himself and in the intensity of his gaze.

"I believe you," he said softly.

The air between them crackled with something that definitely wasn't her wild magic. Her heart did a little flip that she immediately tried to squash. This was Dominic Blackmane - her nemesis, her personal fun-police. She definitely wasn't noticing how his uniform fit perfectly across his broad shoulders or how his eyes seemed to see right through her.

She took a deliberate step back, forcing a light tone. "Well, would you look at that? The sheriff actually trusts me. Should I mark this day on my calendar?"

"Don't push your luck, Moon." But there was a hint of amusement in his voice. "Let's focus on finding who's really behind this."

Tabitha spotted the pet shop's cheerful blue awning across the street. "Hey, what about Paws & Claws? Fred's been there forever - he must have seen something."

Dominic's shoulders tensed. "You know the owner?"

"Let me guess - I'm not allowed to have legitimate connections in this town either?" She flashed him a grin. "If you must know, I buy cat toys for my friend Mira's cat there. Come on, Sheriff."

The bell chimed as they entered, and the scent of cedar shavings and pet food filled the air. Fred looked up from stocking shelves and his round face broke into a warm smile.

"Tabitha! And Sheriff Blackmane..." Fred's smile faltered slightly under Dominic's intense stare.

"Fred," Dominic's deep voice commanded attention. "We need to ask you about the accident last week."

"Oh, that was terrible! Sarah, Marcus, and Jenny - they're all regulars. Sarah's got that sweet tabby with the crooked tail, and Marcus brings his poodle in for grooming every month."

Tabitha leaned against the counter, trying to ignore how Dominic's presence seemed to fill the tiny shop. "They're okay though, right?"

"Thank goodness, yes. Just shaken up. Strangest thing - they all said they felt confused, like their minds went fuzzy all of a sudden."

"Was anyone unusual around when it happened?" Dominic stepped closer, and Tabitha caught a whiff of his cologne - something woodsy and masculine that made her pulse quicken traitorously.

Fred scratched his head. "Come to think of it, there was a woman I didn't recognize. Standing right on that corner." He pointed through the window. "Had a motorcycle helmet on, but I remember seeing purple hair sticking out."

Tabitha's magic crackled, making the nearest row of cat toys rattle. Someone was definitely setting her up. But why? She'd pulled pranks, sure, but nothing to warrant this level of payback.

"You okay?" Dominic's hand brushed her arm, and her magic settled instantly at his touch.

"Just great." She forced a smile. "I love being framed for magical mayhem. Really adds some spice to my life."

His eyes narrowed. "We'll figure this out."

The 'we' shouldn't have made her feel better, but it did. Even if it came from Mr. By-The-Book himself.

The bell jangled as they left Fred's pet shop, and Tabitha blinked against the bright sunlight. Her wild magic still buzzed under her skin, agitated by the confirmation that someone was impersonating her around town.

"Mario's next?" She swung her leg over her motorcycle.

"You're not riding that." Dominic's voice carried that unmistakable note of authority that usually made her want to do exactly the opposite of what he said.

"Watch me." She reached for her keys.

His hand closed over hers, warm and firm. "You're officially helping with a police investigation now. That means you ride with me."

"In your boring squad car?" But her protest lacked its usual fire. His touch sent little sparks through her.

"Consider it your first lesson in following procedure." His lips twitched. "I know it's a foreign concept."

"Fine." She yanked her hand away, ignoring how cold it felt without his touch.

At Mario's, the hostess - a pretty redhead named Rachel - greeted them with a nervous smile. The restaurant smelled of garlic and fresh bread, making Tabitha's stomach growl.

"The mice shifters were such sweethearts," Rachel said, wringing her hands. "They'd just left the front entrance when these... things appeared."

"Things?" Dominic asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Like ghosts, but wrong somehow." Rachel shuddered. "They moved weird, like they were glitching. And their faces..." She trailed off.

Tabitha leaned forward. "Their faces what?"

"They all had the same face. Exactly the same. Like copies." Rachel's eyes went distant. "They surrounded the group, and suddenly everyone was screaming and throwing their wallets and jewelry at them."

Dominic's jaw tightened. "Mass hysteria spell."

"Combined with illusion magic." Tabitha's wild magic stirred, recognizing the signature of the spell work. "That's some serious power. Way more controlled than anything I could do by myself."

"Were any of the mice shifters hurt?" Dominic asked.

"No, they were all fine, thank goodness. Just scared and robbed." Rachel paused. "Though one of them mentioned seeing a woman with purple hair under a motorcycle helmet at the corner just before it happened."

Tabitha's magic crackled again, making the nearby light fixtures flicker. Dominic's hand found the small of her back, steadying her.

"Thank you for your help," he told Rachel as they walked out of the restaurant.

Tabitha slid into the passenger seat of Dominic's squad car. His scent soon enveloped her - that woodsy cologne mixed with coffee and something uniquely alpha male. It should have made her bristle, but instead she found herself relaxing despite the morning's revelations.

"You're quieter than usual," Dominic said, starting the engine. "No jokes about my driving yet?"

"Give me time. I'm crafting something special about how you stop at yellow lights."

His lips twitched. "It's the law."

Tabitha just shook her head. As they started moving, she watched his profile as he drove, noticing how his usual rigid posture had softened slightly. "You know, you're almost bearable when you're not writing me tickets."

"You're almost bearable when you're not earning them."

At the monkey troop's park, utility workers swarmed around the fallen poles. The smell of ozone still lingered in the air, making Tabitha's wild magic tingle uncomfortably.

"These things are massive," she said, walking the perimeter with Dominic. "Look at the clean breaks at the base. That's not random destruction - that's precision."

"Agreed." Dominic's shoulder brushed hers as they walked. "Wild magic tends to be more..."

"Chaotic? Messy? Completely unpredictable?" She grinned. "Trust me, I know. This is way too controlled."

Their final stop was the transformer block. Tabitha's magic hummed as they drove down the street, recognizing the residual energy from other witches.

"Wait." She pressed her hand against the window. "This is weird. Almost everyone who lives here is magical. The Smiths are weather witches, the Patels work with earth magic, and Mrs. Chen does the most amazing healing spells."

"That matters because...?"

"Because whoever did this picked a block full of witches to attack." She turned to look at him. "Just like they targeted shifters at the park, and those mice shifters at Mario's, and those shifters in the car crash."

Dominic's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "You might be onto something."

"I usually am." She leaned back in her seat, studying the scorched transformers. "You know what else is weird? Being in your car without handcuffs."

"Don't make me regret that." But his voice held a warmth she'd never heard before, and Tabitha found herself hoping this wouldn't be the last time they worked together.

The squad car's air conditioning blasted against Tabitha's face as they headed to where she left her motorcycle. "Don't you think it's pretty strange though?" she blurted out. "Every single incident targeted paranormal beings."

"Yeah, it's odd." His hands tightened on the steering wheel.

Her wild magic tingled beneath her skin as the pieces started falling into place. "And Bruce - the way he talked about me being a 'worthless witch.'" Her voice caught unexpectedly as she remembered his sneering face. The words had cut deeper than she cared to admit.

Warmth suddenly spread through her arm as Dominic's hand settled there, strong and steady. The touch was so unexpected, and her magic quieted completely, like it recognized something safe and solid.

"He also called you garbage to my face last night," Dominic said, his voice carrying a protective edge. "And now that you mention it, I've noticed he treats paranormal beings differently. Always has this... look when dealing with them."

Her heart did a little skip at the protective note in his voice. Since when did he start caring about her?

Dominic continued, his jaw tightening. "And those photos he showed you? I've never seen them in any official file."

"So, what you're saying is..." A grin spread across Tabitha's face. "We need to do some good old-fashioned stalking like you were doing to me?"

"Surveillance," he corrected, but his lips twitched. "Official police surveillance."